END THE YEAR WITH A BANG

December. It should be time to celebrate! The holidays are upon us and a new year is just around the corner. Yet this time of year tends to be riddled with stress, anxiety, exhaustion, and feelings of lack of wellness. Believe me, as a lush of life, I get it, but these last weeks of the year should be pure happiness, wellness and joy. Here are five tips to ending the year with a bang, so you can kick off the next one with an even bigger one.

1. Don&rsquot Get Swept Up in the Stress. Just because everyone else is stressed does not mean you need to be. Do what you need to do, when you want to do it, maybe even with a smile. It is not written in stone anywhere that this time of year is supposed to be stressful - we just make it so. Decide instead to do it your way, without stress and with enjoyment, and you will start off the new year in an entirely different way.

2. Demand YOU time. Sometimes the stress at this time of year comes from trying to please everyone, yet in that process we forget to take care of ourselves. Carve out 15 minutes a day, or a larger chunk three times a week to do what you need to do to be healthy and happy. Sweat, rock out, see an old friend, or just sit in silence. Taking time for you now will set the precedent for the new year.

3. Say Thank You. At this time of year we talk a lot about Gratitude, but often forget to actually be thankful. We tend to complain about the holiday parties we have to go to and food and drinks we have to have rather than appreciate how lucky we are to even have those options. We spazz about not finding the right gift rather than rejoice in being able to give one. We whine about being tired rather than feel fortunate that we have friends who want to spend time with us. Instead, just say thank you for everything around you. This will open up endless paths of positivity for the year to come.

4. Go Intangible. Instead of thinking about what you can buy, think of what you can create. Give intangible or homemade gifts, ones that embody your energy and sentiment for the receiver. You will save money and feel so much more fulfilled than after buying a random top for someone.

5. Be You. Wear what you want, say what you want, do what you want. Be who you want to be, as you want to be it, and then you don&rsquot need to worry about anything else.